Marijuana Abuse Help for College Students

College can be an exciting, and disorienting time. When people move away from the confines of home, they can feel simultaneously liberated and isolated. Experimenting with drugs may occur out of a desire to connect with new friends,whilefor others drug use can be a coping mechanism for dealing with the new pressures of college life. It is not uncommon for college students to struggle with addiction.

The Nature of Marijuana Addiction

Some say that marijuana is not addictive, that it is natural and should be legalized. While it is true that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, is not physically addictive, the drug is hardly safe. Marijuana can be addictive psychologically, and it presents a wide range of other risks as well. What starts as recreational abuse can easily become a life-threatening problem.
Physical addiction happens when an external substance replaces a substance naturally created by the body. Alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines and narcotics all do this and leave a person physically dependent.

Marijuana does not do that. In small doses it brings on a sense of relaxation and in higher amounts more of a euphoric debilitation. Users will develop a tolerance to marijuana relatively quickly, meaning they will need larger quantities in order to feel the same effects. Marijuana intoxication compromises motor skills, decision-making and impulse control. People under the influence may make very poor decisions, engage in risky sexual behavior and get involved in deadly motor vehicle accidents. Marijuana smoke also contains a variety of toxins and pollutants that can compromise respiratory health. But, the addiction risk it presents is psychological. While many people discount the seriousness of psychological addiction, it is often much more powerful than physical addiction.

The Effects of Marijuana Use and Abuse in College

The part of the brain most affected by marijuana high is called the “pleasure center.” This is the same part of the brain that controls mood, memory and impulse control, among other things. During intoxication the user will experience substantial relief from emotional distress, anxiety and loneliness. Once the brain feels that relief, it will crave more relief relentlessly,using all of its resources to get it. Neurological circuits are re-routed around this craving and recovery can be extremely challenging.

Marijuana use can also lead to the neglect of valuable, healthy relationships, school work and activities.It also encourages users to establish shallow, drug-centered relationships that are neither satisfying nor meaningful. This can feed depression which may lead to increased drug use and a sort of death spiral of addiction. In many cases the search for an increased high will lead to alcohol abuse and the use of other illegal and very dangerous drugs.

Help For College Students Wrestling with Marijuana Abuse

It can be a real challenge for college students to know who to talk to about marijuana abuse. Our toll-free helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our specially trained addiction counselors can answer your questions and give you hope for a bright, addiction-free future. We can also help you find the best treatment strategy for you, and even help you work out the financial picture. There is absolutely no reason to stay stuck in the trap of marijuana addiction. Get your life back. Call us today and let us help you take your first steps toward freedom.

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